Our Story

Boathouse Ciderworks began back in my grandparents’ Obstruction Pass boathouse. They moved to Orcas in the 1940s, back when land was cheap and the islands served as the orchards of the cities. I have always loved to put food by, and when my late grandparents’ trees grew heavy with fruit I decided to make hard cider in the cool of their boathouse. The apples kept coming so I made several batches that year; my gingered hard cider won the 2015 Orcas Ciderfest Homebrew contest. My friends and family enjoyed my efforts, which included perry, pear cider, Asian pear cyser and a killer ginger ‘champagne.’

By the time the ciderworks building at the landing became available, my sweetheart Captain Jim had accidentally discovered hard cider and hard lemonade slushies. We knew we were onto something we needed to share. And we couldn’t be happier crafting good cider and offering it at Orcas Ferry Landing.

– Libby and Captain Jim

Customer Raves

“The gingered hard cider is AH-MAZING! I love the ginger burn paired with the sweetness. So much better than any of the more tepid ginger ciders out there.”– CB

“500 gallons of fresh pressed cider. And you’re serving slushies? What are you going to do when you run out?” – MG